Frustration is building among TasWater’s local government owners after a meeting was held with Planning Minister Peter Gutwein in Launceston on Friday.
Council representatives and the Local Government Association of Tasmania said they were expecting more comprehensive information about the state government’s takeover of the water body.
“We need more financial modelling before we can make a decision as to whether what the Minister is proposing is good for our communities,” West Tamar mayor Christina Holmdahl said.
Mr Gutwein said the dividends promised to councils until 2024-25 would come from the state budget with all TasWater profits to go back into infrastructure programs.
“Today I have provided the key metrics which indicate on a range of financial metrics that at the end of 10 years the company as a whole is profitable and importantly we have been able to get a significant amount of infrastructure work done.”
But LGAT President Doug Chipman said the Minister’s plan could divert funds from vital community needs like health or education …
Read more here
Examiner
